A Perth tradie who was left fighting for his life after a robot vacuum cleaner exploded inside his home has finally been discharged from hospital after months of agonising treatment.
Lachie Perrem suffered burns to 75 per cent of his body when the vacuum erupted inside his Brabham home on July 2, leaving him with catastrophic injuries and destroying the house he shared with his fiancée and housemates.
The 25-year-old was rushed to Fiona Stanley Hospital where he has since undergone at least three surgeries, including skin grafts to his fingers, left elbow and torso and wound debridement.
He also temporarily lost his voice and was put in an induced coma.
In an update on the family’s GoFundMe page last month, his mother Fiona Perrem revealed that her son was finally allowed to go home – eight weeks since the nightmare first unfolded.
“We have some amazing news — Lachie has officially been discharged from hospital!” the post began.
“After everything he has been through and so many surgeries, seeing him finally home is such an incredible feeling.”
The update included a photo of Mr Perrem standing outside the hospital’s State Adult Burns Unit with long black bandages covering his arms.
Ms Perrem continued: “He still has a long road ahead, with dressing changes a couple of times a week and plenty of healing and recovery still to come, but being home is a huge milestone.
“We are so incredibly proud of how far he has come. His strength, determination and courage throughout this whole journey have been nothing short of amazing.”
The tradie’s mother also shared her gratitude for those who have supported her son throughout his recovery.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported Lachie and our family, sent messages, donated, checked in and kept him in your thoughts. We will never be able to thank you enough,” she said.
The family’s GoFundMe has now raised more than $46,000 to help cover Mr Perrem’s ongoing recovery as well as his living expenses, with the family’s rental home home suffering extensive damage.
The horrific explosion blew out windows, blackened walls and left the kitchen and living room in ruins.
The cause of the unsuspecting blast remains under investigation, with the robotic vacuum seized by the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety for examination.
PerthNow has contacted the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety for further comment.